Luke 12:20
What does Luke 12:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:20 means
God pronounces the man a fool because his soul will be required that very night. Death cancels his plans and exposes his misplaced trust. The question, “Whose will these things be?” highlights the futility of hoarded goods at life’s end. He did not control his time, and he cannot control his legacy. The judgment is not against wealth per se but against living as if wealth were life. The man prepared for every scenario but the only certain one: meeting God. Wisdom counts the brevity of life and holds possessions loosely under God’s lordship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
KJV
King James Version · 1611But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But God said to him, You foolish one, tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner of all the things which you have got together?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And God said to him, Unthinking one! this night thy soul they shall require from thee, and what things thou didst prepare--to whom shall they be?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But God said to him: Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee. And whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890ButGod said to him, Fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee; and whose shall be what thou hast prepared?
Context
God’s unexpected word shatters the rich man’s insulated world. The sudden demand for his soul shows that ultimate timing belongs to God, not to human forecasts. With the man’s end declared, Jesus will draw a direct application to His hearers in the next verse, contrasting self-accumulation with being rich toward God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3
When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
- Jeremiah 17:11
As the partridge that sitteth on eggs which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.
- 2 Samuel 13:28
And Absalom commanded his servants, saying, Mark ye now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine; and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon, then kill him; fear not; have not I commanded you? be courageous, and be valiant.
- 1 Kings 16:9
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah:
- James 4:14
whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. What is your life? For ye are a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
- Psalms 49:17
For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away; His glory shall not descend after him.
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